Coal India Ltd (CIL) and NTPC Ltd are expected to sign an agreement next month to build a 4000MW pithead coal-fired thermal power plant in Brahmani, Jharkhand. The project is estimated to require a capital outlay of UDS 4.6 billion. CIL plans to foray into mainstream power production through this 50:50 joint venture. The proposed power plant is part of NTPC’s plans to augment its power generation capacity. The company currently has a total installed power generation capacity of 30,144MW and plans to boost its capacity by about 19,000MW over the next three years. The firm is targeting a total power generation capacity of 50,000MW by 2012. In order to achieve this, the firm requires an assured supply of coal for its existing and upcoming thermal power plants. NTPC signed a 20-year fuel supply agreement with CIL to ensure a steady and reliable supply of coal for its fuel-starved thermal power plants in India.
